Chapter 55: The golden crown [1]
The night of truth was here, and the attention of the whole footballing community spanning over a billion fans across the world gathered in Paris.
Paris glittered like a jewel that night.
The Théâtre du Châtelet shone with golden floodlights, red carpets unfurled across its entrance like rivers of velvet as reporters and cameramen fully armed waited at the entrance for the show to start.
And then, it started...
Limousines purred against the curb as one after the other, global footballing superstars started pulling up to the occasion. And with their arrival, cameras flashed in machine-gun bursts, even as the world’s eyes locked on one building.
Tonight was the night where the Ballon d’Or would crown its newest worthy recipient, the night where history would be rewritten.
Legends of the sport, both old and new pulled up to the occasion.
The camera flashes rose up a notch when the trio of Brazilian legends, Ronaldo Nazario, Ronaldinho, and Kaka pulled up to the occasion one after the other. Reporters quickly swarmed them.
"Please who do you think will win the Ballon d’Or award?"
Ronaldo and Kaka just smiled at the reporter, not deeming to answer, but Ronaldinho was more vocal as he smiled brightly.
"Tonight, there’s only one winner of the Ballon d’Or, and that’s Sam".
Ronaldo chuckled and led the way through the red carpet amidst a conflagration of camera flashes.
Commotion only started though when Messi and Ronaldo finally pulled up to the occasion. No one knew if it was arranged, but Messi arrived just as Ronaldo’s ride dropped him at the Theatre to much uproar from the crowd.
Messi was dressed in a sharp navy tuxedo, while Ronaldo was in black.
Lionel Messi was accompanied by his wife, Antonella Rocuzzo, while Ronaldo was accompanied by Georgina Rodriguez. Alongside their partners, both legends looked absolutely stunning on the night.
When asked who the winner of the Ballon d’Or tonight was going to be, Ronaldo and Messi responded differently.
"Sam," Messi said.
"Kylian Mbappe," Ronaldo said.
The atmosphere at the Theatre was electric, and finally, the star of the night pulled up to the show.
The red carpet came alive when the car carrying Samuel Moses pulled up.
The roar was instant as French fans, Barcelona supporters, and Nigerian expatriates waving green and white flags surged against the barricades as soon as the door opened.
Sam stepped out with the swagger of a man who had it all.
His dressing was simple, no elaborate embellishments; a black tailored tuxedo, clean bow tie, and polished shoes. No flash, no gimmicks. He let his presence do the talking.
And of course, he was not alone. Beside him was his wife. Sam opened the door for her, and Kayla stepped out to a storm of camera flashes.
Kayla, radiant in a flowing emerald dress with her hair curled perfectly behind her was absolutely stunning on the night. She smiled at him and slipped her hand into his in such fluid motion like it always belonged there.
She was his anchor, his balance, his reminder that the man behind the myth was still just Sam, the boy from Abraka.
Together, they looked like the perfect super couple.
As soon as Sam felt the warm of Kayla’s hand in his, he felt all his worries easing away. ’Calm down, calm down... it’s just an award ceremony’.
The photographers went wild.
Click! Click!
And the chants thundered from the fans.
"SAM! SAM! SAM!"
"Please, can I get an autograph?"
"Can I get a picture?"
It was organized chaos as soon as Sam made his appearance but maintaining a smile on his face, Sam just waved at them until a fan squeezed through, and it was not just any fan.
A certain IShowSpeed who joined the crowd just to meet him at this moment before he walked down the red carpet pushed his way through the crowd, flashing a grin as the security let him through after realizing his identity.
Sam smiled on seeing him; he recognized him.
"Sammy, Sammy!" He called.
"IShowSpeed, right?"
IShowSpeed’s grin widened. "Wow, he knows me, yes!" He pumped a fist in celebration, and then he sharply looked at Sam. "Messi or Ronaldo?"
At first, Sam was confused but finally realizing the context of the question, he chuckled. "Messi, of course".
"Come on man, Ronaldo is the G.O.A.T!" Speed complained but then he quickly turned his back to Sam with a genuine smile on his face; he was wearing a plain white shirt. "Man, can I get an autograph?"
"Sure," Sam took the pen and quickly scribbled his signature on his back.
"Woo!" IShowSpeed whooped in excitement. "I’m rooting for you man, you’ve got this!"
"Thanks," Sam replied politely.
IShowSpeed thought for a moment before adding. "You know, I may just visit Nigeria next month because of you!"
"You’ll enjoy it," Sam said back with a smile.
Maintaining the same soft smile on his face, he lifted a hand to acknowledge the rest of the fans, then he guided Kayla up the carpet.
The Théâtre’s interior was drenched in gold. The lighting was perfect; luxurious chandeliers blazed overhead that made this hall look like a painting of gleaming walls where the world’s greatest football players mingled in suits and gowns.
Not just the Brazilian trio, legends old and new were all present; Luis Figo, Zinedine Zidane, but to mention but a few.
When Kylian Mbappé arrived, there was another uproar as he was surrounded by flashing cameras. He came with Vinicius.
Another global football superstar who stole the show was Manchester City’s Erling Haaland. As soon as he pulled up to the occasion, his towering figure snatched the limelight as cameras flashed like mad.
On another side, the trio of Lamine Yamal, Gavi, and Pedri came together, creating another buzz. The atmosphere at the entrance was electric.
This was the night that football fans across the world had been waiting for since last season came to an end, and they could not wait to get to the main dish.
Once all the players arrived, all the buzz switched to inside the theatre.